previously partitioning the drive first?

Most installers will partition the disk for you. If you are also going to have windows on the same disk, defrag first, and then the Installer should be able to create a linux partition for you while preserving Windows on a smaller partition.

At a minimum, you need one partition for swap space, and one /. I also have a separate partition for /home.

I hope this helps
--Ian

yes, using disk druid when installing. you can resize, format your hard drive for linux. i don't personally trust disk druid to resize or alter a windows partition and i always use a windows tool in windows to make freespace for a linux install. but it's your choice as to how you want to go about it. but yes, you don't need to be in windows first to make freespace as your linux installer should be able to make freespace for you when installing linux. i don't know if that's interactively or automatically though. also, even though i answered your question in terms of dual booting, nothing in the answer is changed really (except for worrying about hosing your windows install) since you could have the partitioning tool in linux do the formatting and partitioning of your hard drive for installation.

i guess, if going by your question literally, you will have to format and partition your harddrive (at least a "/" partition and a swap partition) before installing linux.

thanks